Letters to the Editor: The ICCC bond renewal

Ranco has relied on local employees since its inception in 1961 and will continue to employ skilled manufacturing workers to serve its agricultural customers. Iowa Central Community College has assisted Ranco in a variety of capacities over the years, but ICCC requires updated facilities and resources to continue leading in workforce training. Their proposed bond renewal funds many training programs across a multitude of fields which are critical to our local economy.

This is not a tax increase. It is a renewal of an existing levy that supports Iowa Central's 6,000 students, 1,200 employees and countless business partners. The college is a critical resource for many businesses like Ranco. Renewing this bond is a fiscally responsible way to invest in tomorrow’s workforce.

Rohn Everson, Staffing and Training Coordinator, Ranco Fertiservice, Inc., Sioux Rapids

A different watering source

Has anyone considered an irrigation water source for Sunrise Municipal Golf Course from the lake itself?

Currently my understanding is that water for irrigation at the golf course is the same water that is used for residential and industrial customers. It has to be treated and transported all the way from the water teatment plant on the west side of town to the golf course.

The golf course does not need treated water. And the golf course is sitting adjacent to a 3,000-acre lake that contains 81.5 million gallons of water per inch. Yes, it would require an IDNR permit to draw water from the lake, but so does drilling new wells. And the water could be used directly without needing treatment.

The BVU Golf Course at Lake Creek, which is twice the size of the municipal golf course, uses water from a much smaller pond and only occasionally has to rely on a well source. Thirty-three of the households at Lake Creek also use water from the same pond. BVU could consider doing the same thing to keep their beautiful campus green without the continuing cost of buying treated water from the city. Just wondering.

Neal Kuehl, Storm Lake

Take a look in the mirror

According to Webster’s Dictionary, indigenous means “having originated in or occurring naturally in a particular region.” In North America that was the Native Americans, or Indians if you will. If you don't like immigrants look in the mirror because if you’re not indigenous then you are the offspring of an immigrant. Oh, so it’s ok if you migrated from Europe, but God forbid if someone came from south of the border?

Don’t like Blacks? Look in the mirror again, because it was probably your ancestors who sailed to Africa. They kidnapped, tore people from their families then threw them in the filthy bowels of slave ships and brought them here unwillingly. That’s true history they don’t want taught to the kids. Sure got it right when they call it whitewashing. For the record, I’m German on my mom’s side and Scot-Irish on dad’s, so I’m about as white as you can get.  

Maybe we should take the inscription off the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” 

Don’t like the way things are now? Look in the mirror again, because half of you voted for this and you were told what would happen. You voted for a convicted, egotistical, self-centered and perverted crook.

Mark Twain said “The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.” 

And I second that.

Dave Haynes, Duncombe

Voucher program

What’s going to break the Iowa economy/ budget is public money for private schools regardless of family income.

Candy Morgan, Des Moines

Enjoying your column

The current one on cooking oil gets better:  the cooking oil we get from China is USED cooking oil that we convert to biodiesel. Trump doesn't understand this and he talks about competition for the cooking oil we make for our own use. Is there any hope for farmers with this stable genius in charge?  I keep looking for the check in the mailbox...

Btw: those seeking to understand Trump's donation to Argentina should look at Scott Bessant's close friendship with a big investor in the Argentina government who could lose big if Argentina defaults again (for the ninth time).

Ruard Vanderploeg, Monroe

Let’s call it ‘social capitalism,’ not socialism!

How do you think Mr. Trump would interpret the term “Social Capitalism?” He is telling Americans that the socialist (his word) Democratic Party intends to turn this country into  “Socialist Command Economy, which deprives citizens of any private initiative or responsibility, paralyzing creativity and productivity.” He and his like-minded collaborators try to convince us, that the Democrats who, especially under F.D.R. and Truman, pushed back hard against Soviet-style socialism/communism in Europe, now want to embrace it. Well, shame on all of them!

Socially responsible free-market economies, that “combine free initiative of the individual with the principle of social progress, guaranteed freedom of private enterprise and property,” are not to be confused with government-controlled economies like China or Russia.

European countries like Germany, where I come from, realize that their social policies for supporting affordable education, living-wage salaries, worker/family-friendly labor laws, healthcare for everybody (it is not free but affordable, and has additional private options), and, if needed, financial aid for families/businesses in distress, are the foundation for a healthy and highly productive workforce/society, required in a competitive free-market environment. I call this “Social Capitalism,” which helps to attain a higher standard of living.

Having lived and worked in this country for over 40 years, America has “Cut-Throat-Capitalism,” which leaves many people behind and is creating growing wealth inequality.

It is no surprise then, that a disillusioned younger generation appears to embrace socialism over capitalism. I assume they want to live in an America with less: social injustice; corporate power/greed; and general egoism — all of which negatively affect social fairness/ communal cohesion. I doubt they want to lose the many privileges our democracy can offer and, instead, live in restricted societies like China or Russia. They desire a more social form of capitalism, offering ways to achieve self-sufficiency and stability. Is that too much to ask and hope for? I think not.

Sadly, they can not count on Mr. Trump. His apparent priorities are: to gain more power in office; to use his status for searching/creating profitable business opportunities, here and abroad, to shamelessly enrich himself and his family; and to waste taxpayer money on retributive investigations/lawsuits. With Mr. Trump’s efforts of moving this country closer to becoming an autocracy, supported by some opportunistic plutocrats, and with no public opposition from many sycophant GOP members, we are looking to a future where more greed and cronyism will rule, where social/ wealth inequality will increase and where, consequently, the hopes of a younger generation for a brighter future will be diminished.

Democratic administrations have succeeded in passing Social Security, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, the latter against total GOP opposition. I hope voters will recognize that the “Social Contract,” even now, still has meaning/purpose for the Democratic Party, as their fight for social justice continues. Fairness in an economic system, that will benefit all of its participants and not just a small minority, can be achieved. Most people derive pride from being self-sufficient and find asking for financial help humiliating. Therefore, more Americans need to get involved, demand change, and vote for candidates who commit to turning “Cut-Throat-Capitalism” into “Social-Capitalism,” making America a country where everybody has a chance to find appropriate and just work/pay/benefits, which are the basic necessities to afford a dignified life.

America is the greatest democracy in the world and, hopefully, will survive the present administration's assaults to derail it. To deserve being called the greatest country in the world, as I hear frequently, it can and needs to do better for the many who contribute to this society, but are too often deprived of its promise.      

Sigrid R.E. Fischer-Mishler, Harpswell, Maine